Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), is reissuing the Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) funding opportunity (R21 mechanism, PAR-25-346) to support early-stage bioengineering research. The initiative aims to develop and demonstrate the feasibility of new tools, technologies, or methodologies to address problems in biomedical research, pre-clinical or clinical care, and accessibility to care. Projects must focus on feasibility, exploratory development, and demonstrating potential utility, particularly in enhancing quality, speed, efficacy, operability, cost, or accessibility for solutions to biomedical or healthcare-related challenges.

The funding mechanism is the R21 grant, which supports innovative research at the early stages without requiring extensive preliminary data. This opportunity specifically encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration, particularly between biomedical researchers and engineers, to solve complex problems. Proposed projects may address the feasibility of novel tools, new multidisciplinary approaches, or improvements in current technologies. Importantly, the emphasis is on early development, where successful completion demonstrates promise for further progression in subsequent studies.

Eligible projects must focus on feasibility and utility of new capabilities, improvements, or solutions. Nonresponsive applications include those focused solely on biological hypotheses without technology development or those that use existing, unmodified tools or technologies. Innovative projects should propose credible research strategies aimed at creating new capabilities that can impact biomedical research, clinical care delivery, or accessibility.

The total budget for the two-year project period is limited to $275,000 in direct costs, with no more than $200,000 allowed in a single year. Applications may be submitted by public and private higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profits, small businesses, government entities, tribal organizations, and foreign organizations. Applicant organizations must complete and maintain active registrations in SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. Each Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) must have an eRA Commons account.

Applications will be reviewed using modified criteria emphasizing the following factors: importance of the research (significance and innovation), rigor and feasibility (approach), and expertise and resources (investigator(s) and environment). Specific attention will be given to the project’s potential for advancing bioengineering capabilities, the feasibility of proposed approaches, and the capacity to demonstrate promise for future development. The review process will assess whether the project contributes to NIH priorities, addresses significant gaps, and includes sound plans for achieving the proposed objectives.

Applications will follow NIH standard due dates, starting February 16, 2025, with subsequent deadlines in June and October of each year through October 16, 2027. Projects will be reviewed in cycles, with advisory council review occurring approximately four to six months after submission. Awards are anticipated to begin in December 2025 for the first cycle and follow similar timelines for subsequent cycles.

The NIH encourages early submission to allow adequate time for correcting errors during the application process. Applications must adhere strictly to the submission instructions, including required formats, page limits, and components, as outlined in the NIH How to Apply Application Guide. Required sections include a research strategy addressing significance, innovation, and approach, as well as a data management and sharing plan for sharing generated scientific data.

Key scientific and research contacts for this opportunity include representatives from NCI and NIDCR, such as Dr. Asif Rizwan and Dr. Zhong Chen. Financial and grants management inquiries should be directed to designated NCI and NIDCR officials, including Shane Woodward and Gabriel Hidalgo. The opportunity is open to domestic and international applicants, with additional considerations for diversity, inclusion, and equitable access to NIH funding.